Prince Harry's Legal Battle: Fake Security Threat and Deleted Emails

Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper arm has agreed to search for emails related to an alleged 'fake security threat.' Claimants, including Prince Harry, argue this threat was used to delete millions of emails during the phone-hacking scandal. News Group Newspapers faces multiple lawsuits claiming unlawful activities.

Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper division has agreed to search for emails concerning an alleged 'fake security threat.' Claimants, such as Prince Harry, allege that this threat was employed to erase millions of emails during the phone-hacking scandal's peak.

News Group Newspapers (NGN) faces numerous lawsuits over alleged unlawful actions by its journalists and private investigators for The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s. Claimants, including Prince Harry, accuse senior NGN executives of leveraging a security threat to justify deleting emails in 2011 after the phone-hacking scandal broke.

Former senior NGN executives' emails, including those sent by Will Lewis and James Murdoch, will be examined for relevant evidence. David Sherborne, representing the claimants, alleges that Lewis and Rebekah Brooks used the threat to wipe crucial backup tapes. However, NGN's lawyers contest the allegation, stating the security threat was based on genuine concerns. The latest hearing occurred ahead of a January trial.

(With inputs from agencies.)